Lightning News

Lightning Re-Sign Goaltender Desjardins, Defenseman Taormina

The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed goaltender Cedrick Desjardins and defenseman Matt Taormina to one-year, two-way contracts, vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced today.

Desjardins, 27, appeared in three games with the Lightning last season, compiling a record of 0-3-0 to go along with a 3.00 goals-against average and .890 save percentage. The Edmundston, New Brunswick native played in 36 games in the American Hockey League last season, splitting the season between the Hamilton Bulldogs and Syracuse Crunch, registering a record of 15-18-3 to go with a 2.61 goals-against average and .910 save percentage. During the 2012-13 AHL season, Desjardins recorded five shutouts, including three in just 14 games while with the Crunch. He appeared in 18 Calder Cup playoff games with Syracuse, posting a record of 13-5-0 to go along with a 2.30 goals-against average and .908 save percentage.

The 6-foot, 192-pound goaltender has appeared in five career NHL games, all with the Lightning, during the 2010-11 and 2012-13 seasons, notching a record of 2-3-0 with a 2.14 goals-against average and .926 save percentage. He has also played in 184 career AHL games with the Bulldogs, Norfolk Admirals, Lake Erie Monsters and the Crunch, compiling a record 95-62-12. Desjardins was the recipient of the AHL’s Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Award for recording a 2.00 goals-against average during the 2009-10 season, given annually to the goalie with the lowest goals-against average. That same season he also appeared in the 2010 AHL All-Star Classic, in which he was named top goaltender during the skills competition, as well as being named on the 2010 AHL Second All-Star Team following the season.

He was acquired by the Lightning on February 14, 2013 from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for goaltender Dustin Tokarski.

Taormina, 26, skated in two games with Tampa Bay last season and was held scoreless. He made his Lightning debut on April 6 at the New York Islanders. He also skated in 55 games with the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League, collecting four goals and 24 points to go along with 21 penalty minutes and a plus-10 rating. The Warren, Michigan native ranked second on the Crunch defense for points and assists. Taormina has skated in 254 career AHL games with the Binghamton Senators, Lowell Devils, Albany Devils and the Crunch, collecting 18 goals and 74 points, including a career-high 10 goals and 50 points in 2009-10.

The 5-foot-10, 182-pound defenseman has appeared in 49 career NHL games, with the New Jersey Devils and Lightning, recording four goals and 12 points with a plus-3 rating. He made his NHL debut with the Devils on October 8, 2010 against the Dallas Stars.

Taormina went undrafted and was signed as a free agent by the Lightning on July 6, 2012.